Notification to users of events

ABSTRACT

A method and system for notifying users of events. User activity of a user is monitored, based on user notification information in a storage location. The user notification information pertains to a scheduled event. In response to a detection, from the monitoring, of a change in the user activity, it is ascertained that the change necessitates notifying the user of the scheduled event due to the change impacting whether the user can participate in the scheduled event. Then the user is notified of the scheduled event. The user notification information in the storage location is modified, based on the detected change in the user activity, in response to receipt of an instruction from the user to change the user notification information in the storage location.

This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser.No. 13/491,806, filed Jun. 8, 2012, which is a continuation ofapplication to Ser. No 11/621,791, filed Jan. 10, 2007, U.S. Pat. No.8,229,083, issued Jul. 24, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and system for conveying messages toa user related to previously scheduled events and in particular to amethod and system for transmitting text messages to a user who is notusing or in close proximity to a stationary or semi-stationary computingdevice. The transmission being a text message sent to a mobile computingdevice that is possessed or that in close proximity to the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Computer Supported Coorporative Work (CSCW) addresses “how collaborativeactivities and their coordination can be supported by means of computersystems.” On the one hand, many authors consider that CSCW and groupwareare synonyms. CSCW is a generic term, which combines the understandingof the way people work in groups with the enabling technologies ofcomputer networking, and associated hardware, software, services andtechniques. Groupware can be divided into three categories depending onthe level of collaboration—communication tools, conferencing tools andcollaborative management (Co-ordination) tools. Electronic communicationtools send messages, files, data, or documents between people and hencefacilitate the sharing of information. Examples include: email, instantmessaging, faxing, voice mail and web publishing. Electronicconferencing tools facilitate the sharing of information, but in a moreinteractive way. Examples include: Internet forums (also known asmessage boards or discussion boards)—a virtual discussion platform tofacilitate and manage online text messages;

Chatting—a virtual discussion platform to facilitate and managereal-time text messages;

Telephony—telephones allow users to interact;

Video conferencing—networked PCs share video and audio signals;

Data conferencing—networked PCs share a common whiteboard that each usercan modify;

Application sharing—users can access a shared document or applicationfrom their respective computers simultaneously in real time; Electronicmeeting systems (EMS)—a conferencing system built into a room. Thespecial purpose room will usually contain a large video projectorinterlinked with numerous PCs.

Collaborative management tools facilitate and manage group activities.Examples include: electronic calendars (also called time managementsoftware)—schedule events and automatically notify and remind groupmembers; project management systems—schedule, track, and chart the stepsin a project as it is being completed; workflow systems—collaborativemanagement of tasks and documents within a knowledge-based businessprocess; knowledge management systems—collect, organize, manage, andshare various forms of information; extranet systems (sometimes alsoknown as ‘project extranets’)—collect, organize, manage and shareinformation associated with the delivery of a project (eg: theconstruction of a building); social software systems—organize socialrelations of groups; online spreadsheets—collaborate and sharestructured data and information. Collaborative software can be eitherweb based (such as UseModWiki or Scoop), or desktop systems (such as CVSor RCS).

A conference call is a telephone call where the calling party wants tohave more than one called party listen in to the audio portion of thecall. The conference call may be designed to allow the called party toalso talk during the call, or the call may be set up so that the calledparty merely listens into the call but cannot speak. It is oftenreferred to as an ATC (Audio Tele-Conference). These conference callsare a convenient way for many people to conduct business affairs whilebeing in different physical locations. Even the technology forconference calls has progressed to the point that many users havesystems that remind them of scheduled calls and prompt them immediatelybefore a scheduled telephone conference is to occur. Some of theseconference notification systems automatically remind the user of ascheduled teleconference.

At certain times, the currently available reminder capability forconference calls or other meetings in collaboration tools (such as LotusNotes) are insufficient. The basic problem is that they require the userto be using the computer or be near it, in order to be alerted about anupcoming meeting. Consider the following cases where that requirement isproblematic for obtaining the alert:

-   -   The user has left his/her laptop locked in an office and is        collaborating with fellow coworkers on the design of some new        architecture in a conference room. Or, as another example, the        user is attending a department celebration such as a major        project delivery or a coworker retirement, etc. in a conference        room and has left his/her laptop in an office.    -   The user may have been stopped in the hallway and asked about a        solution to some problem, and as a result of the ensuing        discussion, may have forgotten about an upcoming meeting.    -   In the user's current time zone, the meeting is scheduled for        early afternoon, but because the user has flown to another        location to work on another project, the meeting may occur while        the user is out at lunch in the new time zone, or early in the        morning while the user is still getting dressed for work, for        example.    -   The user may be in a taxi on the way to/from an airport or may        be in some other capacity where he/she is not likely to have a        laptop open. While the user may not want to take a confidential        call in these instances, there are non-confidential calls and        non-participatory calls that the user might want to take in        these instances, such as an overview of the new features and        advantages of a recently released software product from IBM, for        example.

These scenarios highlight the problems associated with notifying a userof a conference call when that user is away from his/her computer. Thereremains a need for a means to connect to or be reminded of a conferencecall or meeting while the user is away from his/her computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and system that sends textmessages to users via mobile devices when the user is away from his/heroffice or main computer device. The invention comprises an enhancementto mobile device (cell phone, BlackBerry, Palm Pilot, etc.) software andan enhancement to collaboration tool (such as Lotus Notes) software forthe integration of this new feature. The invention provides the optionfor the user to be notified by SMS on a mobile device of an upcomingconference call/meeting. However, because it is designed to alleviatethe problems above where the user is away from the computer, theinvention also allows the conference call number and pass code (ifrequired) to be sent as part of the SMS message, and the mobile devicesoftware to be enhanced as to provide the following option:

-   -   Upon receipt of one of these messages, the enhanced mobile        device software would automatically connect to the specified        conference call number after some preconfigured time interval,        for example 15 seconds. This time interval would be one of the        preference settings for the mobile device software.

In the method of the present invention, there is an initial systemsetup. This step involves the sending of a test message to determinewhether the user's portable device can receive text messages in thissystem. Once the initial setup is complete, the user device is thencapable of receiving text messages related to scheduled telephoneconferences. A second step is to input into the system the telephoneconference schedule and any travel plans of the user. Once thisinformation is in the system, it is used to determine if there is achange in the user schedule that necessitates a change in a schedulednotification of the user. For example, if a user is scheduled to be in adifferent time zone at the time of the meeting, the system could promptthe user to determine if the user wanted a pre-conference notification.The third step would be to send the meeting text message notification atthe appropriate time to the user via the user's mobile device such asthe user's PDA or cellular telephone device.

An additional and optional enhancement provides the integration of thecollaboration tool with an employee online travel reservation tool. Withthis integration, the collaboration tool, upon acceptance of a receivedmeeting invite by the user or after the user has created a newappointment in the calendar, can prompt the user if he/she would likethe enhanced reminder. This prompt would occur if the invention detectsthat the user will be in a new time zone by the time the meeting starts,and if the meeting in that new time zone would be at a time when theuser is likely to be away from the computer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a Short Message System (SMS) capable ofsending text messages to a mobile device.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a configuration of the system of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the steps in the implementation of themethod of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the process for sending an SMS message to amobile device in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the process for receiving an SMS message ata mobile device in accordance with the method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the steps in an online travel reservationprocess implemented in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention incorporates Short Message Service technology toenable a user to receive information in a text message format. ShortMessage Service (SMS) is a service available on most digital mobilephones (and other mobile devices, e.g. a Pocket PC, or occasionally evendesktop computers) that permits the sending of short messages (alsoknown as text messages, or more colloquially SMSes, texts or even txts)between mobile telephones, other handheld devices and even landlinetelephones.

Messages are sent to a Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) whichprovides a store-and-forward mechanism. It attempts to send messages totheir recipients. If a recipient is not reachable, the SMSC queues themessage for later retry. Some SMSCs also provide a “forward and forget”option where transmission is tried only once. Both Mobile Terminated(MT), for messages sent to a mobile handset, and Mobile Originating(MO), for those that are sent from the mobile handset, operations aresupported. Message delivery is best effort, so there are no guaranteesthat a message will actually be delivered to its recipient and delay orcomplete loss of a message is not uncommon, particularly when sendingbetween networks. Users may choose to request delivery reports, whichcan provide positive confirmation that the message has reached theintended recipient, but notifications for failed deliveries areunreliable at best.

Transmission of the short messages between SMSC and phone can be donethrough different protocols such as SS7 within the standard GSM MAPframework or TCP/IP within the same standard. Messages are sent with theadditional MAP operation forward_short_message, whose payload length islimited by the constraints of the signalling protocol to precisely 140bytes (140 bytes=140*8 bits=1120 bits). In practice, this translates toeither 160 7-bit characters, 140 8-bit characters, or 70 16-bitcharacters.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a typical Short Message System (SMS)configuration capable of sending text messages to a mobile device. Thisconfiguration comprises a centralized control center SMSC 110, controltowers 112, 114, and 116, and the mobile electronic devices 118 and 119possessed by the end user. In addition to these electronic mobiledevices other computing devices such as personal computers (PCs) andlaptop computers are capable of sending and receiving text messages viathe SMS technology. In the SMS, the user will formulate and send themessage through electronic device 118. This message travels through achannel to the control tower 114 that is the closest in proximity to theelectronic device 118. The message is then sent from the control tower114 to the central control center SMSC 110. The SMSC stores the messageand transmits the message via control tower 114 to the recipientelectronic device 119. In this example, because of the location of theboth electronic devices, control tower 114 interacted with devices 118and 119. However, in other cases different control towers will be usedto transmit and receive messages.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of the telephone conferencenotification and connection system of the present invention. Theinvention comprises a software enhancement 200 to software 202 in amobile device (cell phone, BlackBerry, Palm Pilot, etc.) and anenhancement 204 to collaboration tool (such as Lotus Notes) software 206for the integration of this new feature. In this system, thecollaboration tool 206 communicates with the mobile device 202 for thetransmission and receipt of text messages at the mobile device. A userinterfaces with both the mobile device and the collaboration tool. Inaddition, a travel center 208 can be incorporated to provide informationabout the itinerary of the user. Communication between the travel centerand the collaboration tool can be through a communication network 209such as the Internet or a telephone system. The mobile device can have adisplay screen to show any received text messages.

However, some mobile devices do not have the capability to automaticallyshow the SMS message when it is received, but instead shows an icon andthe user has to enter the “Text Messaging” category of the device inorder to view the message. For these telephones, the present inventionhas two enhancements: 1) A new and differential icon (different color,different shape, etc.) that alerts the user that the incoming message isan enhanced reminder message; and 2) The ability for the differentiatedicon to provide a number next to it (either superscript or subscript) inthe event the mobile device receives multiple enhanced reminders at thesame time. The user will then have to choose which call to connect towhen he/she enters the “Text Messaging” category.

The present invention provides a method for automatically connectingusers to telephone conference calls. In addition, this method providesthe feature of notifying a user when there is change in a scheduledconference call. This change may be the result of activities of theuser. The invention provides the option for the user to be notified bySMS on a mobile device of an upcoming conference call/meeting. However,because it is designed to alleviate the problems above where the user isaway from the computer, the invention also allows the conference callnumber and pass code (if required) to be sent as part of the SMSmessage, and the mobile device software to be enhanced as to provide thefollowing option:

-   -   Upon receipt of one of these messages, the enhanced mobile        device software would automatically connect to the specified        conference call number after some preconfigured time interval,        for example 15 seconds. This time interval would be one of the        preference settings for the mobile device software.

An additional enhancement provides the integration of the collaborationtool with an employee online travel reservation tool available in manycompany travel centers (CTC). With this integration, the collaborationtool, upon acceptance of a received meeting invite by the user or afterthe user has created a new appointment in the calendar, can prompt theuser if he/she would like the enhanced reminder. This prompt would occurif the invention detects that the user will be in a new time zone by thetime the meeting starts, and if the meeting in that new time zone wouldbe at a time when the user is likely to be away from the computer. Forexample, a user may have accepted a meeting invite for the followingweek at 2:30 pm in the user's current time zone. For example, usingSeptember 26 as the date the meeting would occur, and also assume thecurrent time zone is Central. However, the week of September25-September 29, the user is scheduled to be in a different locationthat is in the Pacific time zone, which is 2 hrs behind Central timezone. Therefore, the meeting on September 26 would occur at 12:30 pm inPacific Time zone, when the user is likely to be out at lunch. With theintegration to the CTC, the collaboration tool would be able to detectthat the user is scheduled to be in another location during the week ofSeptember 25-September 29, based on the dates that round-trip tickets,hotel reservations, etc. were purchased for. After determining what timezone the new location is in, and what time segment the meeting will fallunder in the new time zone, it can prompt the user to be reminded withthe enhanced reminder if the time falls under a segment that the userwould not normally be in the office. Note that the user would haveneeded to set up “off-work hours” in the preferences of thecollaboration tool, so that the invention can determine if the meetingwould fall at an inopportune time. Examples of off-work hours would bebefore 7 am, between 12 pm and 1 pm, or after 7 pm.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the steps in the implementation of themethod of the present invention. The initial step 300 in this method isthe receipt of user travel information by the enhanced SMS messagestorage location such that enhanced SMS software can have access to thisinformation. This location can be in a remote location (at an officefacility) or at a network location (on a network server machine). Thenext step 302 in the method is to verify the capability to establish aconnection with a user's mobile electronic device. This connectioncapability is between the mobile electronic device, the centralized SMSCand the location housing the enhanced software. In some configurations,this location can be the SMSC. The purpose of this step is primarily toensure that the message can be sent to the mobile electronic device.Following the connection verification step, the method goes into amonitoring state, step 304. In this monitoring step, the method canperiodically check for any previously submitted events or new eventsthat may affect a scheduled event/meeting. During the monitoring step,if the time for a scheduled event is detected, step 306 prompts the step308 to notify the user as previously established. Step 310 then modifiesthe user's file to remove this event. The process then returns to themonitoring step 304.

Referring back to step 306, if during the periodic check, there is notdetection of a scheduled event, the method continues to monitor in step312. Step 314 detects a change in the user's activities. One such eventcan be a change in the travel plans of the user such that the user willbe in a different time zone than the time zone of the conference host.At this point, step 316 determines whether the detect changenecessitates a notice to the user. For example, if the user traveled butremained in the same time zone, this change could be detected, but maynot necessitate a notification to the user. If the detected change doesnot necessitate a notification to the user, the method returns to themonitoring step 304. If in step 316, the detected change doesnecessitate notifying the user, the user is given an opportunity tomodify the stored information. This modification of the informationwould occur in step 318. After the modification, the method returns tothe monitoring step 304 awaiting the next schedule event.

Step 300 calls for the user to provide information about the useritinerary that the system will use to notify the user about an upcomingmeeting or conference. Table 1 below is an example of an enhanced SMSMessaging Form, which the user will complete. This table of informationis submitted to a software-monitoring program for the purpose oftracking information related to a user's travel schedule. This formsenables a user to provide what, when and where information about theuser's activities to the Enhanced SMS software. This information iscontained in a stored file for that particular user. As shown, this formis in a table format and can contain various types of information. Thistable contains four columns. The first column identifies a variable. Thesecond column defines each variable. The data type for each variable islisted in the third column. Finally, the fourth column lists a defaultvalue for each variable.

Enhanced SMS Messing Form Variables

Variable Definition Type Default Value Automatic Dial When received onthe mobile Boolean None must be selected device should the number by theuser. automatically be dialed? Automatic Dial How long after message isLong 15. Can be selected Timed Interval received should mobile device(defined by the user. Only attempt to connect to call? in applicable ifautomatic seconds) dial option was chosen. Test Message Should a testmessage be sent Boolean No Option to the mobile device for validationpurposes? Message Title A title for the message which String The titleof the meeting will be displayed on the mobile notice. Can be selecteddevice when the message is by the user. received. Message The message tobe sent to the String None must be selected Description mobile device.by the user. Connection ID Number to be dialed Long None must beselected (Conference by the user. calling number Connection The passwordfor the meeting String Obtained from meeting Password invite, ifavailable. (pass code) Time Date and time message should Date None mustbe selected be sent by the user or calendaring tool. DestinationDestination device ID String None must be selected Cellular number(telephone number or other by the user. device identification).

Referring again to FIG. 3, step 302 verifies the capability ofconnecting to a user mobile electronic device. FIG. 4 is a detaileddescription of this step 302. In the initial step 400, the collaborationtool attempts to access the enhanced SMS Messaging software of themobile electronic device. Step 402 prompts the user with an enhanced SMSmessaging form. This prompt serves to get the user's attention and toalert them to fill out the SMS messaging form in step 404. This processof filling out the SMS messaging form can be an interactive processwhere the user is prompted to supply information in therequested/necessary fields. Once the user completes the SMS messagingform, the information in this form is stored in a file for that user.Next, the user has the opportunity to send a test message in step 406.If the user does not want to send a test message, the user can indicatethis and the process would move to a monitoring and message receiptphase, which is shown in FIG. 5. If the user desires to send a testmessage, the process moves to step 408 where the SMS test message isconverted to an XML format that is readable by the mobile electronicdevice. In step 410, this converted message is sent as an SMS testmessage to the mobile device.

At this point, in step 412, there is a determination of whether the testmessage was successfully sent to the mobile device. If the transmissionwas successful, the SMS test message is displayed on the electronicdevice in step 414. At this point, step 416 sends a return successfultest SMS response to the collaboration tool software. Since the testmessage transmission was successful, the process moves to the monitoringstate.

Referring again to step 412, if the test message transmission was notsuccessful, a test failure message is generated and sent to thecollaboration tool software in step 418. Next step 420 determineswhether the error is a user error. If so, the user is prompted tocorrect the error. In step 422, the user corrects the error. If thedetermination is that the user has not made an error, or even if theuser has made an error, in either case step determines whether or not toresend the test message.

Referring to step 308, FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the process forreceiving an SMS message at a mobile device in accordance with themethod of the present invention. This method in FIG. 5 is a continuationof the method described in FIG. 4. This method of FIG. 5 continues fromeither step 406 or 416. Both of these steps return successful test SMSresponses to the collaboration tool software. In the method of FIG. 5,after a designated time, an enhanced text message is generated to sendto the user's mobile electronic device. This message can be any timedesignated by the user and prior to a scheduled conference. For example,the user may want a reminder of a meeting at 30 minutes prior to themeeting. At the 30 minutes point prior to the meeting, a text message instep 500 would be generated to go out the user's mobile device. Step 502would convert the transmitted SMS message to an XML format that isreadable by the user's mobile device. After the message conversion, step504 would actually send the SMS message to the user's mobile device.

Once the message is sent, step 506 makes a determination of whether themessage was successfully sent to the user's mobile device. If thedetermination is that the message transmission was not successful, themethod moves to step 508 where a return failure response is sent to thecollaboration tool software. This failure response message is then sentto the user in step 510 and the process ends.

Referring again to step 506, if the determination is that the messagewas successfully sent, step 512 displays this message at the userdevice. In addition to displaying an SMS text message at the userdevice, the present invention can have the capability to determine instep 514 whether there are multiple messages being simultaneouslytransmitted to the user device. When there are multiple messagesawaiting the user, in step 516 a connection is made to one of themessages.

This selection can be based on the user's discretion or there can besome predetermined method for making the connection. One example of thepredetermined approach could be message priority system. Anotherapproach could be in the event the mobile device has received multipleSMS messages to automatically connect to a call at overlapping times,the software will not try to connect to any of the telephone numbers.Instead the software will alert the user of this situation and promptthe user to select which call to which the user wants to connect. Inthis approach, the user gets the option to select the call.

In another situation when the mobile device has received a message toautomatically connect to a call while the user is currently on a call,again, the software will not try to connect to the telephone number. Inthis case, the software would switch over to a manual mode for the SMSmessage, thereby giving the user the option to use a one-click option toconnect to the call later on if he/she so desires.

In the event the user has received a message to automatically connect toa call, but it comes at an inopportune time, the user can choose tocancel the automatic call process before the time interval has expired.For example, if the user is already in a meeting, the user can cancelthe automatic connect before this automatic connect occurs. If themeeting in the collaboration tool gets canceled before the SMS messagehas been sent, it will not send the SMS message.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the steps in an online travel reservationprocess of a company travel center (CTC) implemented in the presentinvention. In this process of the present invention, the SMS softwarecan poll or monitor an online travel reservation center for changes inuser travel information. Detected changes may be used to query the userwith regard to changes in notification preferences for the user. In thisprocess, the user in step 600 creates preferences for off-hours forwork. The off-hours are times that the user typically does not want toreceive messages. Off-hours could before 7 am or between 12 pm and 1 pm(lunchtime). In step 602, the collaboration tool (monitors) polls thereservation system at frequencies specified by the user. The polling canbe hourly, daily weekly etc. Step 604 determines whether a new flight orhotel reservation is found during a polling session. If no newreservation is detected during a particular polling period, the methodreturns to the polling step 602. If however, in step 604, there is anewly detected reservation, the method moves to step 606, which cachesor stores the new reservation until the event covered by that timeframefor that reservation has passed. In step 608, the collaboration toolobtains the time zone of the new reservation location. This step alsodetermines if any meetings during this timeframe will fall at anoff-hour time as specified by the user. If no meetings fall at off-hourtimes, step 610 returns the method to the polling step 602. If in step610, meetings do fall in this off-hours time, the method moves to step612, which prompts the user to determine if the user would like anenhanced or standard text message alert.

During the reservation detection step 604, the information provided bythe reservation center can comprise the below listed format.

XML Message Response from Reservation System <Response>   <Type>Flight</Type>    <StartDate>10/15/2006</StartDate>   <EndDate>10/20/2006</EndDate>    <City>Los Angeles</City>   <StateOrProvince>California</StateOrProvince>   <Country>US</Country> </Response>

As discussed, the present invention provides novel features overconventional methods of performing text message functions andconventional methods for alerting persons of upcoming telephoneconferences. First, this invention has an automated calling after atimed interval. Second, this invention incorporates the use of a newicon with multiplicity factor for phones that use icons to denote newtext messages. The new icon would be used to tell the user that thismessage is a conference call message, as opposed to a message receivedfrom a friend. Third, this invention can be integrated with a travelreservation system to detect when the user might want this type ofreminder (with the automated calling, or a text alert in general). Thiswould essentially replace box 402 in FIG. 4, so that instead ofprompting the user every time if they want the SMS reminder, it wouldonly prompt them when it detects that they would likely be away fromtheir machine at the time of the meeting (if the meeting falls atlunchtime in the new time zone, for example). Note that the user canconfigure the frequency that the collaboration tool pulls data from theonline travel reservation tool, such as nightly, weekly, monthly, etc.,according to how often the employee travels. With these novel features,the present invention provides several advantages:

-   -   Solves the drawbacks/limitations outlined above with current        reminder functionality in collaboration tools.    -   It's unique. While the ability to send an SMS reminder message        currently exists, we have not found the ability to trigger an        action on the mobile device upon receipt of an SMS message. In        the case of this application, the action would be to [Prior        Art—this exists already (hyperlink click in post-disclosure)]        automatically connect to the call after some time interval (thus        eliminating the need to dial any of the digits at all).    -   Additionally, we have not seen the integration of a        collaboration tool with an online travel reservation tool in the        manner specified above.    -   Buildable—it's relatively easy for one skilled in the art of        mobile device software to implement the two options above upon        receipt of an SMS message. The integration with the reservation        system should be likewise straightforward.    -   An excellent usability enhancement, as it makes it very        convenient for the user to connect to the call while away from        the computer.

While this detailed description of the invention focuses on a method forautomatically connecting to conference calls, there is a broaderapplication and concept of triggering an action on a mobile device uponreceipt of an SMS message. A number of follow-on ideas flow from thisconcept that are also useful. For example, a user may ask his/her friendfor the phone number of a third mutual contact via SMS. Upon receipt ofthe phone number, the mobile device software can be enhanced to detectthat a phone number is included in the message and can prompt to connector automatically connect to the call. It can also prompt the user tostore the number if it detects that the number is not already in thecontact list. In another example, a user may have read an article thathe/she thinks may be interesting to a friend and hence has forwarded itto the friend. Upon receipt of the message, the mobile device softwareeither prompts to connect to the Web on the mobile device orautomatically does so after a configured interval.

It is important to note that while the present invention has beendescribed in the context of a fully functioning data processing system,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the processes of thepresent invention are capable of being distributed in the form ofinstructions in a computer readable medium and a variety of other forms,regardless of the particular type of medium used to carry out thedistribution. Examples of computer readable media include media such asEPROM, ROM, tape, paper, floppy disc, hard disk drive, RAM, and CD-ROMsand transmission-type of media, such as digital and analogcommunications links.

We claim:
 1. A method for notifying users of events, said methodcomprising: monitoring, by a computer, user activity of a user, saidmonitoring based on user notification information in a storage location,said user notification information pertaining to a scheduled event; inresponse to a detection, from said monitoring, of a change in the useractivity, said computer ascertaining that the change necessitatesnotifying the user of the scheduled event due to the change impactingwhether the user can participate in the scheduled event; in response tosaid ascertaining, said computer notifying the user of the scheduledevent; and said computer modifying the user notification information inthe storage location, based on the detected change in the user activity,in response to having received an instruction from the user to changethe user notification information in the storage location.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the change necessitates notifying the user of thescheduled event due to the change negatively impacting the user'sability to participate in the scheduled event.
 3. The method of claim 1,said method further comprising: prior to said monitoring, said computerreceiving at the storage location: travel information pertaining to theuser, notice of the scheduled event, and the user notificationinformation.
 4. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising:prior to said monitoring, said computer establishing a connectionbetween the computer and a user mobile electronic device of the user toenable communication between the computer and the user via the usermobile electronic device.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein saidnotifying the user is implemented within a predetermined time intervalprior to the scheduled event.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein saidnotifying the user comprises automatically connecting the user to thescheduled event.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said notifying theuser comprises transmitting to the user via a text message a number tocall to connect to the scheduled event, the transmitted number beingincluded as part of the text message.
 8. A computer program product,comprising a computer readable hardware storage device having computerreadable instructions stored therein, said instructions configured to beexecuted by a computer to implement a method for notifying users ofevents, said method comprising: said computer monitoring user activityof a user, said monitoring based on user notification information in astorage location, said user notification information pertaining to ascheduled event; in response to a detection, from said monitoring, of achange in the user activity, said computer ascertaining that the changenecessitates notifying the user of the scheduled event due to the changeimpacting whether the user can participate in the scheduled event; inresponse to said ascertaining, said computer notifying the user of thescheduled event; and said computer modifying the user notificationinformation in the storage location, based on the detected change in theuser activity, in response to having received an instruction from theuser to change the user notification information in the storagelocation.
 9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the changenecessitates notifying the user of the scheduled event due to the changenegatively impacting the user's ability to participate in the scheduledevent.
 10. The computer program product of claim 8, said method furthercomprising: prior to said monitoring, said computer receiving at thestorage location: travel information pertaining to the user, notice ofthe scheduled event, and the user notification information.
 11. Thecomputer program product of claim 8, said method further comprising:prior to said monitoring, said computer establishing a connectionbetween the computer and a user mobile electronic device of the user toenable communication between the computer and the user via the usermobile electronic device.
 12. The computer program product of claim 8,wherein said notifying the user is implemented within a predeterminedtime interval prior to the scheduled event.
 13. The computer programproduct of claim 8, wherein said notifying the user comprisesautomatically connecting the user to the scheduled event.
 14. Thecomputer program product of claim 8, wherein said notifying the usercomprises transmitting to the user via a text message a number to callto connect to the scheduled event, the transmitted number being includedas part of the text message.
 15. A system, comprising a computer and acomputer readable hardware storage device having computer readableinstructions stored therein, said instructions configured to be executedby the computer to implement a method for notifying users of events,said method comprising: said computer monitoring user activity of auser, said monitoring based on user notification information in astorage location, said user notification information pertaining to ascheduled event; in response to a detection, from said monitoring, of achange in the user activity, said computer ascertaining that the changenecessitates notifying the user of the scheduled event due to the changeimpacting whether the user can participate in the scheduled event; inresponse to said ascertaining, said computer notifying the user of thescheduled event; and said computer modifying the user notificationinformation in the storage location, based on the detected change in theuser activity, in response to having received an instruction from theuser to change the user notification information in the storagelocation.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the change necessitatesnotifying the user of the scheduled event due to the change negativelyimpacting the user's ability to participate in the scheduled event. 17.The system of claim 15, said method further comprising: prior to saidmonitoring, said computer receiving at the storage location: travelinformation pertaining to the user, notice of the scheduled event, andthe user notification information.
 18. The system of claim 15, saidmethod further comprising: prior to said monitoring, said computerestablishing a connection between the computer and a user mobileelectronic device of the user to enable communication between thecomputer and the user via the user mobile electronic device.
 19. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein said notifying the user is implementedwithin a predetermined time interval prior to the scheduled event. 20.The system of claim 15, wherein said notifying the user comprisestransmitting to the user via a text message a number to call to connectto the scheduled event, the transmitted number being included as part ofthe text message.